“Famous Firsts in Women’s History” is Smith Library’s Women’s History Month theme for 2021. There have been numerous trail-blazing women in the United States. These pioneers have made achievements in business, politics, science, education, arts, literature, sports, and numerous other areas.
Here are some of women’s notable firsts.
Katharine Graham is the first woman to become a Fortune 500 CEO, the Washington Post Company, in 1972.
Joan Benoit wins the first women’s Olympic Marathon in 1984.
Activist Alice Paul proposes the Equal Rights Amendment for the first time in 1923.
High Point University also has a notable first within our community.
Marsha Sla
ne was named chair of the High Point University’s Board of Trustees Sept. 7. 2005 and served until 2010. She was the first woman in university history to hold this post.
The Women’s History Website states:
Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” These proclamations celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields. https://womenshistorymonth.gov/about/
Stop by Smith Library to read some of the following books on display on additional historic firsts of women:
an American Life
by Dan Morain.
Kamala Harris,
the first female,
first Black,
and first
South-Asian
vice president
in U.S. history.
Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Hillary Clinton,
the first female
presidential nominee
of a major
party in 2016.
a life at
full throttle
by Janet Guthrie.
Janet Guthrie,
the first woman
to drive in
the Indy 500
in 1977.
a biography by
R.W.B. Lewis.
The first woman
to win a
Pulitzer Prize
in 1921.
Mary Fields
by Miantae
Metcalf McConnell.
Mary Fields was
the first African
American Woman
Star Route
Mail Carrier in
the United States.
Additional information can be read at the following websites:
https://www.history.com/topics/womens-history/famous-firsts-in-womens-history
https://womenshistorymonth.gov/
-Blog post by La-Nita Williams, Circulation Services